NIKE GOLF JUNIOR AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

PARK LEADS GIRLS DIVISION AFTER FIRST ROUND AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

Uihlein and Campbell lead as weather interferes with first round in Boys Divisions

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas â€“ So-Hyun Park of Bradenton, Fla. finished in front of the Girls Division after the first round of the Nike Golf Junior at South Padre Island at 5-over-par 77.The 15-year-old carded an even-par 36 on the front nine combined with a 5-over-par 41 on the back.The Boys Division was suspended due to darkness after a 3 hour and 13 minute rain delay earlier in the afternoon.Among the players completing the first round, Peter Uihlein of North Dartmouth, Mass., and Griffin Campbell of Marietta, Ga., are tied for the lead with even-par 72s.

The remainder of the Boys Division will complete the first round with a 7 a.m. shotgun start Sunday.The final round of the Girls and Boys Division will be a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start Sunday following the completion of the first round.

The Nike Golf Junior at South Padre Island is a 36-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at South Padre Island Golf Club.The tournament features 99 of the nationâ€™s premier junior golfers, ages 12-15, from 21 states and Canada.This event is the first of nine regular-season events in the 2004 Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series.

Park shot even on the front nine with two birdies on Nos. 1 and 7 and back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5.On the first hole she sank a short-putt for birdie and on the par-5 No. 7 she hit a sand wedge from 50 yards to the edge of the hole.The back nine gave Park some trouble with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13 and Nos. 16 and 17.

â€śI think Iâ€™m going to play better tomorrow,â€ť Park said.â€śI just made some mistakes today that can be fixed.â€ť

Three strokes off the lead, in second place with an 8-over-par 80 is Jennie Arseneault of Grinnel, Iowa.The 15-year-old had three birdies on Nos. 4, 9, and 17.Arseneault carded a 1-over-par 37 on the front nine, but increasing winds caused some difficulties for the junior on the back side as she carded a 7-over-par 43.

â€śI was hitting good shots, but the wind made every shot so tough,â€ť Arseneault said.â€śI just couldnâ€™t pick the right club.â€ť

Caitlin Bliss of Katy, Texas, and Natalie Sheary of West Hartford, Conn., are tied for third place at 9-over-par 81.

In the Boys Division, Uihlein and Campbell share the lead.Uihlein carded a 37 on the front nine and 35 on the back.The 14-year-old collected three bogeys on the first nine holes, but was bogey-free on the back.He missed an eagle attempt on the par-5 No. 17 after hitting a driver and 6-iron to within six feet of the hole.

â€śThe wind was grabbing balls today,â€ť Uihlein said.â€śDuring the practice round I hit a 2-iron and wedge on No. 18, but today I hit a driver and 5-iron.That is a big difference.â€ť

15-year-old Campbell carded a pair of even-par 36s on the front and back nine.He had a string of birdies on Nos. 7, 8, and 9.He also birdied No. 17 after hitting a driver and 2-iron to the front of the green.Campbell agreed the wind was a determining factor.

â€śI learned to play with the wind for the last twelve holes,â€ť Campbell said.â€śI started making my putts.â€ť

One stroke off the lead in third place at 1-over-par 73 is Steven Loer of Sarasota, Fla.In fourth place at 2-over-par 74 is Michael Im of La Habra, Calif.Tied for fifth place at 3-over-par 75 are Caleb Marsh of Strawberry Plains, Tenn., and James Byrd of Windermere, Fla.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.The AJGA has a membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGAâ€™s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Associationâ€™s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

For more information on the Nike Golf Junior at South Padre Island or any other AJGA event, contact the AJGA Tournament Headquarters at (956) 943-3622.

The American Junior Golf Foundation is the primary recipient of all charitable giving to the AJGA and as such administers a variety of programs designed to compliment the AJGA and the members and families who make up our community. Learn more about these important programs and how your contributions to the Foundation secure the AJGA’s financial future for future generations to come.

The Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program provides financial assistance to junior golfers who wish to play in AJGA events. Its goal is to give top-flight golf opportunities to young golfers regardless of financial resources. This program helps to fulfill the AJGA’s mission of developing young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

Leadership Links

What is Leadership Links?

Leadership Links is a new program whereby the AJGA is able to further its mission to help develop young men and women by teaching charitable giving skills and service-oriented practices at an early age. This program gives juniors all the tools necessary to donate their time, talent and resources to local charities and the AJGA youth development programs. Please click here to learn more about the program and the different opportunities available.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and
development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.